‘He Is Not One of Us': Kerala Congress Leader Slams Shashi Tharoor for 'Nation Comes First' Remark
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Mint
25 minutes ago
- Mint
Clean mobility crossroads: Why states side with EVs over hybrids
India's push for clean mobility is hitting a fork in the road, as states increasingly diverge from the Centre's approach to supporting all types of clean vehicles. The growing divide, evident in automobile policies in various states, has also set the stage for intense lobbying, as rivals vie for policy support. At the central level, the view is to treat electric and hybrids equally when it comes to incentives. But states are having different thoughts. Key states like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh have decided to reserve incentives for battery EVs (BEVs) in their automobile policies for 2025, a Mint review found. Chhattisgarh recently tweaked a 2022 policy to explicitly remove incentives for hybrids. While Uttarakhand and Delhi had toyed with incentives for hybrids in their draft policies, the former is now reconsidering its position, a person aware of the matter said. State choice 'In Para 3 of the said rule, the phrase 'Hybrid electric vehicles will be eligible to receive 50% of the purchase incentive amount given to a fully electric vehicle' should be replaced with 'No subsidy will be given to any type of hybrid vehicles'," Chhattisgarh government said on 29 May. Union ministers have backed equal treatment for both EVs and hybrids. "Under the FAME-II Scheme, EV and hybrid versions of electric four-wheelers were allowed for incentivization. Similarly, in the case of the PM E-Drive scheme, a hybrid version of e-ambulances, that is, electric plug-in hybrid & strong hybrid, shall be incentivized," Union heavy industries minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said in a June 6 interview. Union road minister Nitin Gadkari too has backed both hybrid and ethanol-powered cars. While EV makers demand incentives should be reserved for zero-tailpipe emission vehicles, hybrid makers say their vehicles are far more fuel-efficient than conventional ICE vehicles, and that they serve as a bridge to a cleaner future. Few takers According to analysts at HSBC Global Research, at the end of 2024, only five states and union territories had incentivized sales of hybrid vehicles, which included Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Chhattisgarh. With the withdrawal of hybrid incentives in Chhattisgarh, the number has reduced to four. Incentives by Delhi and Uttarakhand haven't been implemented yet, with final EV policy notification expected in months ahead. With states charting their own course to clean mobility through targeted policies, the hybrid lobby led by Maruti Suzuki has locked horns with the EV lobby led by Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra. 'We believe that government incentives should be directed toward technologies that require support to bridge a funding gap and accelerate innovation. Incentives are most effective when they help emerging technologies reach scale and maturity—particularly those that contribute meaningfully to long-term sustainability goals," a Tata Motors spokesperson said in response to queries on policy stance of state governments. Bridge to future Maruti Suzuki argues that promoting hybrids can reduce pure diesel and petrol vehicle sales, leading to an overall reduction in pollution. Rahul Bharti, senior executive officer, corporate affairs at Maruti Suzuki, said, "EV penetration in India is still around 3%. While all efforts should be made to maximize this, it still leaves 97% unaddressed. If we have to achieve the national objectives of decarbonization and oil import reduction, this 97% cannot be ignored. A technology like Strong Hybrid reduces CO₂ emission by 26-32% and improves fuel efficiency by 35-44% over pure petrol/diesel. However, it has a viability gap which needs to be addressed, as many countries of the world and many Indian states are already doing by incentivizing hybrids." The reluctance among states to include incentives for hybrid vehicles comes at a time when the automobile industry is locked in a sharp contest over a provision in Delhi's EV policy. Mint reported on 30 May that top automakers including Tata Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra and Hyundai Motor India Ltd had approached the heavy industries ministry and federal thinktank Niti Aayog after the Delhi government proposed to include incentives for hybrid vehicles on par with EVs in its upcoming EV policy. Tata Motors, MG Motor India, Mahindra and Mahindra and Hyundai Motor India are India's leading EV manufacturers. Maruti Suzuki, Toyota India and Honda Cars India are the only companies offering hybrids. Policy dilemma 'In India, the broader policy consensus so far has been not to incentivize hybrids, with most benefits reserved only for BEVs," said Nikhil Dhaka, vice-president at consultancy firm Primus Partners. As companies slug it out, independent experts are also split on whether or not to incentivize hybrid vehicles. '(Not incentivizing hybrids) could be a missed opportunity, especially since our EV infrastructure is still developing. Only a few states like Delhi and Uttarakhand have taken steps to support strong and plug-in hybrids by offering some incentives," Dhaka of Primus Partners said, adding hybrids can reduce fuel use and emissions right away, making them a useful option while India builds a stronger EV ecosystem. Sharif Qamar, associate director of transport and urban governance at The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri), differed. 'The objective of the EV policy is to cut down emissions of vehicles and also contribute to improving the air quality," he said. 'When it comes to the emission reduction objective, currently, only zero-tailpipe emission vehicles need to be prioritized. Incentives should be crafted to encourage players to move towards zero emission vehicles." Meanwhile, both hybrids and EVs have gained traction in India. In FY25, 107,000 electric cars and 83,000 hybrid vehicles were sold, both growing 18% each.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Tribal outcry forces govt to put tiger corridor GO on hold
Hyderabad: In a U-turn, Telangana govt on Monday put govt order (GO) 49 in abeyance following protests from tribals, opposition parties, and even voices within the Congress. The order, issued on May 30, notified 1,492.88 sq km across Asifabad and Kagaznagar forest divisions as the Kumuram Bheem Conservation Reserve, intended to formalize a crucial tiger corridor linking Kawal Tiger Reserve in Telangana and Tadoba Andhari reserve in Maharashtra. Amid growing fears of displacement in nearly 339 tribal villages and a complete bandh in the erstwhile Adilabad district on Monday, the state govt was compelled to retract. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad The decision was made after a delegation led by panchayat raj minister D Anasuya (Seethakka), Adilabad in charge minister Jupally Krishna Rao, forest minister Konda Surekha, and local MLA Vedma Bhojju met chief minister A Revanth Reddy. "The Congress-led people's govt will always stand by the children of the forest. Adivasis and tribals should not have any concerns over GO 49," Konda Surekha told the media in Warangal. Widespread Resistance and Fear of Eviction The GO sparked backlash from tribal rights groups, including Tudum Debba, whose leader, Godam Ganesh, said the corridor will adversely impact tribal livelihoods and lead to mass displacements. "We fear it will affect 339 tribal villages across Asifabad and Kagaznagar," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo A bandh called by Tudum Debba on Monday, shut down businesses, schools, and public transport across four districts. CPI and CPM functionaries also extended support to the agitation, accusing the govt of attempting to alienate tribal land. The protests were further fuelled by a letter — allegedly from CPI (Maoist) — which called on Seethakka to ensure protection for tribals in the affected areas. Seethakka, who has tribal roots and is an ex-Maoist herself, questioned the letter's authenticity, but said she would not allow any decision that harmed forest-dwelling communities. "The moment concerns were raised about GO 49, I spoke directly with relevant officials. I will never allow any policy to harm tribal livelihoods in the name of forest or wildlife conservation," she said. Ecological Significance of the Corridor The now-suspended Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve was conceived as a vital ecological link for tiger movement and genetic exchange between major reserves. The area connects Kawal with Tadoba, Tipeshwar, Kanhargaon, Chaprala in Maharashtra, and Indravati in Chhattisgarh. Apart from tigers, it supports leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, wolves, hyenas, and over 240 bird species, including the endangered Malabar pied hornbill and long-billed vulture. According to the GO, the presence of breeding tigers and consistent inter-state dispersal events over the last decade underscore the importance of the region for long-term conservation. The proposed area includes 78 reserved forest blocks across 10 mandals. Conservationists Disappointed at Policy Reversal While tribal communities welcomed the decision, wildlife experts expressed concern over the govt's handling of the matter. "The decision to keep Kumuram Bheem Conservation Reserve in abeyance following tribal protests is unfortunate — not because the concerns of local communities are invalid, but because it reflects a failure of dialogue," Imran Siddiqui, senior field conservationist at the Centre for Wildlife Studies and co-founder of HYTICOS, said. "Conservation should never be imposed, but co-created with the people who have lived in and protected these forests for generations. Rather than abandon protection, we must work harder to build trust and ensure that conservation uplifts both nature and indigenous livelihoods," he said. Efforts by forest officers to allay fears and communicate that no immediate evictions are planned failed to gain traction. The forest department has now been asked to submit a fresh report, and the CM's office has indicated the policy may be revisited after further consultations. A senior forest officer told TOI: "We are hoping the GO will be revived later. We will continue to crack down on encroachments on forest land."
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Tribal outcry forces govt to put GO on tiger corridor in abeyance
Hyderabad: In a U-turn, the Telangana govt on Monday put govt order (GO) 49 in abeyance following protests from tribals, opposition parties, and even voices within the ruling Congress. The order, issued on May 30, notified 1,492.88 sq km across Asifabad and Kagaznagar forest divisions as the Kumuram Bheem Conservation Reserve, intended to formalise a crucial tiger corridor linking Kawal Tiger Reserve in Telangana and Tadoba Andhari reserve in Maharashtra. However, amid growing fears of displacement in nearly 339 tribal villages, and a complete bandh in the erstwhile Adilabad district on Monday, the govt was compelled to retract. The decision was made after a delegation led by panchayat raj minister D Anasuya (Seethakka), Adilabad in charge minister Jupally Krishna Rao, forest minister Konda Surekha, and local MLA Vedma Bhojju met chief minister A Revanth Reddy. "The Congress-led people's govt will always stand by the children of the forest. Adivasis and tribals should not have any concerns over GO 49," forest minister Konda Surekha told the media in Warangal. Widespread Resistance and Fear of EvictionThe GO sparked backlash from tribal rights groups, including Tudum Debba, whose leader Godam Ganesh said the corridor would adversely impact tribal livelihoods and lead to mass displacement. "We fear it will affect 339 tribal villages across Asifabad and Kagaznagar," he said. A bandh, called by Tudum Debba on Monday, shut down businesses, schools, and public transport across four districts. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad CPI and CPM leaders also extended support to the agitation, accusing the govt of attempting to alienate tribal land. The protests were further fuelled by a letter — allegedly from CPI (Maoist) — which called on minister Seethakka to ensure protection for tribals in affected areas. Seethakka, who has tribal roots and was an ex-Maoist herself, dismissed the letter's authenticity but said she would not allow any decision that harmed forest-dwelling communities. "The moment concerns were raised about GO 49, I spoke directly with relevant officials. I will never allow any policy to harm tribal livelihoods in the name of forest or wildlife conservation," she said. Ecological Significance of the Corridor The now-suspended Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve was conceived as a vital ecological link for tiger movement and genetic exchange between major reserves. The area connects Kawal with Tadoba, Tipeshwar, Kanhargaon, Chaprala in Maharashtra, and Indravati in Chhattisgarh. It supports not only tigers but also leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, wolves, hyenas, and over 240 bird species, including the endangered Malabar pied hornbill and long-billed vulture. According to the GO, the presence of breeding tigers and consistent inter-state dispersal events over the past decade underscore the importance of the region for long-term conservation. The proposed area includes 78 reserved forest blocks across 10 mandals. Conservationists Disappointed at Policy ReversalWhile tribal communities welcomed the decision, wildlife experts expressed concern over the govt's handling of the matter. "The decision to keep the Kumuram Bheem Conservation Reserve in abeyance following tribal protests is unfortunate — not because the concerns of local communities are invalid, but because it reflects a failure of dialogue," said Imran Siddiqui, senior field conservationist at the Centre for Wildlife Studies and co-founder of HYTICOS. "Conservation should never be imposed, but co-created with the people who have lived in and protected these forests for generations. Rather than abandon protection, we must work harder to build trust and ensure that conservation uplifts both nature and indigenous livelihoods," he said. Efforts by forest officials to allay fears and communicate that no immediate evictions were planned failed to gain traction. The forest department has now been asked to submit a fresh report, and the CM's office has indicated the policy might be revisited after further consultations. A senior forest official told TOI, "We are hoping the GO will be revived later. We will continue to crack down on encroachments of forest land. "
